Mesoscale processes influence biological production, mixing, anddissipation of momentum in the ocean. Although a significant fractionof ocean kinetic energy involved in ocean circulation is related tothese processes, their intrinsic dynamics, including details of theirthree-dimensional structure, sources, and life cycle, are not fullyunderstood and remain poorly resolved in general circulation models.Parameterization schemes are commonly used to approximate theireffects on physical and biogeochemical components of ocean models, butthe sensitivity of regional and global scale dynamics to alternateparameterizations and improved resolution remains unclear. Thissession invites reports on observational, modeling, and theoreticalstudies of the dynamics of mesoscale eddies, Rossby waves, majorfronts, jets, striations, and beta-plumes. We also encouragediscussion of rectified effects and potential feedbacks between theseocean processes and other components of the earth system (e.g.,between ocean physical and biological processes), representation ofthese feedbacks in general circulation models, and examination ofmodel sensitivity to changing resolution and parameterizations. We aimto elucidate the effects of increased model and process resolution onthe representation of time-averaged physical and biogeochemicalprocesses in earth system models and explore hypotheses concerningtheir dynamical response to projected changes in climate over thecoming centuries.

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